CyclingTips podcast, Episode 24: Genevieve Jeanson on making peace with a tainted past

by VeloClub

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In the early 2000s, Genevieve Jeanson was a rising star in women’s cycling. Already a two-time national and world champion as a junior –in the road race and time trial –the French Canadian was taking the American and international scene by storm. She won La Flèche Wallonne Féminine, a world cup race, and made her first appearance at the Olympics at the tender age of 18. She grew her palmares quickly over the following few years, adding World Cup wins, national titles, and stage and GC victories at classics like the Women’s Challenge, Redlands, Tour de Gila and Tour de Toona.

And she didn’t just win them, she dominated, often coming across the line with unprecedented margins on her competitors.

Her career came to an immediate stop in 2005, however, when she tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO). She denied taking a banned substance but announced her retirement months later, at just 24 years old.

However, in an interview with Radio-Canada in 2007 she came clean and confessed to having used EPO throughout her career, dating back to 1998.

Jeanson graciously agreed to talk to Ella and open up about her past, her relationship with Aubut, how she has moved on and her life now.